The National tribune., 1887-01-20
FIGHTING THEM OVER
What Our Veterans Have 10 Say About
Their Old Campaigns.
BATTERY HARRISON.
A Graphic sketch by UOmrade Of the 18Th New
Hampshire.

meni of the 18th N. Hts baptism OF fire.
tttle mare ,lau two wears later we find the regi
ment ln the column assaulting Battery harrl-
sou, where il left on the held over hall its
number la killed aud wounded. Little did
any member of the organization then think
the time would ever come when IL would be
needful 20 prove that 10 was present and
took AN active part in either Of these engage
munts.
But several communications in "our paper"
claiming all the glory for the Second aud ll~d
Brigades compel me- rs one who feels that there
WAS glory enough won on the 18th aud 3Oth OF
September, 1864. 10 20 round and give every
man aud organization that took part full
ration, 10 take up my pen. Permit me to give
nay version. and 10 support my statements by
GO iOus extracts from the report OF the Ad]u-
tan General of the State of New Hampshire.
The 2oth of September, 1864, found the First
Brigade, First Division, Eighteenth Corps, con-
sistinK of the 18th N. III. tLieut.-Col Norman
Smith cOmmaudlng). 6lst N. ", 9Sth N. \. ana
l39th NY. Col. Stevens. ofthe 18Th, in command.
Occupyinea position midway between the James
and AppomattOx Rivers, where IL held the adj
Vanced works and picket-line Of our deienses,
constantly engaged in work upon the fortifca-
tioms and ia picket duty. On that day II was
relieved by new regiments of Pennsylvania
troops aud again prepared 90 attack the enemy
on the north side of the James.
At9p m. OF that day the entire brigade, with
the exception Of Co. c of the 18th ~ H., which
garrsoned redoubt of our advanced works,
IN LIGHT MARCHING ORDER,
left their camps and moved with its division TO
the assault on Battery Harrison. This was
Formidable wOrl, Ina the enemy s line of defenses
M Chapin's Farm, half a mile from the north
bank of the James and about six miles from
Richmond, the advance to which was COM
manded IN part by the rebel gunboats IN the
river, above Dutch Gap. OF this work a field
officer OF the British army, who visited IT
shortly after its capture, sand:
Ii is about six miles aud quarter from Rich
mond, strong earthen fort and so placed that
the taking of II is quite unaceounable. IL is ON
hin with a natural giacis of six or hundred
yards, and with good gunners should sweep against
al oomers Taxing into account an extensive
abatis ID should have been toilsome, dangerous
work TO have traversed that long slope.
To the First Division, commanded by Brig
Gen. Stannard. of Vermont, was assigned the
duty of assaulting and carrying this work.
After the usual roll-call and taps the troops
quietly flied out Of camp and marched down TO
the James To a point near Ailsen's Landing,
where il crossed on pontoons that had been
covered with straw and earth TO deaden the
sound, as we were within easy range of the
rebel guns All orders
WERE GIVEN IN WHISPERS,
and the disposition of the troops was made as
follows The 10th N. III. and 1lSth N. Y, under
command of Col. DonahOe, were deployed as
skirmishers Capt. Goss, of the 18th n. H.,
with his sharpshOOters, was also on the Skin
mish-line. The two other regiments of the
Second Brigade. the Goth n. Y. and 9Th Conn,
commanded by Brig.-Gen. Burnham of Maine,
until he was killed, were in the advance, fol-
lowed by the First Brigade, consisting Of the
18th n. H., Slst, 9Sth aud 10Th N. Y, COM
manded by Col. Stevens, of the 18th. The
Third Brigade, consisting OF the lS6th and 5sth
Pa. 2lst Conn. and 10th Mass.
With the first gray glmmer Of the coming
morning the advance commenced. The szir-
mishers drove the enemy rapidly back and the
division massed in column, followed closely in
support. The sun was just gliding the top OF
the pines when, aiteran advance OF nearly three
miles, the head of the column came out Of the
woods in full view of Battery Harrison on high
ground, three-fourths of mile distant across
an open field. The Report Vol. 2 page 1896,
says:
The fort Mt once opened with it's heavy guns on
the head Of the column. The skirmishers al vanced
rapidly across the field, while the assaulting col
umn. with fixed bayonets aud musllets uncappcd,
moved In quick time, steadily and irresistbly upon
the enemy'E works
Our troops were met IN front and flank by a con
tnuous discharge of musketry, and by a sharp aud
plunging Ere OF artillery. both from the fort and
gunboats our left flank. Tie shot and shell Of
the enemy tore through our ranks. and their mus
kerry told Oh aud officers at every step
but the gaps we've instantly closed--the advance
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. and men vieing with each
other, Ia this march of DEATH 20 maintain the firm
and integrity of the column. This splendid
advance witnessed by Gen. Stannard from his
position, not without anxiety but with enthusiastic
pride.
When within about 40 rods of the fort Col
Stevens was struck by a bullet. woundng him
severely ia the thigh. One gun in particular
that did terrible execution was 81 x-inch Rod
man, mounted little TO the left of the center
OF the fort. Shell after shell from this gun
came plunging
INTO THE HEAD OF THE COLUMN,
and exploding cut down in some instances as
many as eight men. So terrific was the fire
that the head Of the column obliqued slightly
20 the right, thereby gaining the shelter Of a
tlight ridge, when for few moments they
halted and took breath And lust here the
rebels made two mistakes that gave us the fort
Seeing The column oblique into this little raw
ine they evidently thought we were intending
10 follow up the rayine and take them by the
left hank-their weak spot. and really the kew
70 the battery, as IL was open 10 the rear and
they could have used but few of the guns upon
as. body of infantry double Quicked down
10 The lett lour right 10 head us Off But such
was not our intention. Their second mistake
was their gunners must have become ratified
for just rs the last man of the division reached
the shelter Of the ridge they fired the Rodman
gun, doubled shottcd with grape. IL tore
thfOuEh lhe lufi ana Shfleked over our heads
without hitting man. Had this charge been
reserved until we made the rush from this
slight cover and the infantry all remained In
the fort, the history Of this assault would have
read differently.
The division rested here but moment and
then with a cheer rushed up the slight rise
enheartened by seeing the Rodman gun pointing
Ekyward at am angle of thirty degrees. The
heavy and harmless charge dismounted e. We
struck the fort near the lelt-hand corner. lean.
ing down into the six-foot ditch and climbing
MP the scarp, 10 OF IL feet high.
The infantry were posted TO enflade the
ditch as well AS 10 take us in front and before
we could get up the ditch was strewn with dead
aud wounded, Lieut.-Col Smith being among
the wounded; but with shout IL is done. and
the fort Is ours. Again quote:
Among the first there h Tie torn and raoercd an.
ner Of the 18Th, for u was the third regiment Ia tie
column, and led ate brigade. It's color guard of si1
HAD ALL FALLEN
IN thc advance, either killed or wounded, four Of
them while bearing tlle colors. A part of the Ma.
honnl eolOf Of the regiment had been torn off by a
shot rom The enemy while still at some distance
from Tie Tort but the sacred relic was seized by
seiBt ID. w. EodRe, who bore the color hasti :
thris INTO hs bosom, aud when lac fell was carried
with him from the field 10 the hospital; but yyhsi
remains Of the gloious old flag Is floating from the
captured works. aud what remain of liz Draw
defenders are mlngug their voices ia the shout al
victory. The fort wac carried few minutes afiet
z. On entering the fort the regiment gathered
Gnns two OF which were fired several times on the
retreating enemy.
In rear OF the battery, which was open. were
aaff lnv -, a